KODACHROMESBY NATIONALGEOGRAPHICPHOTOGRAPHERTHOMASNEBBIA
Eisenhower rose to political leadership of the
Free World, and the Nuncio ascended the
Chair of St. Peter.
After a private talk lasting 25 minutes, Pope
and President met the Eisenhower entour
age (page 592) for an exchange of gifts. Mr.
Eisenhower presented his autographed photo
graph framed in silver; the Pontiff offered a
signed photograph and a gold medal inscribed
with the words, "John XXIII... Obedience
and Peace."
As departure time neared, the crowd in St.
Peter's Square swelled (left). Many came
armed with cameras to catch "Eekay" flying
away in his helicopter (above). As the Presi-
dent told us in Washington, D. C., he was
eager to "sit in the sky" and look down on
Europe's and Asia's historic landmarks.
At almost every stop he planned to heli
copter between city and airport, hoping to
see in particular the Vatican, Agra's Taj
Mahal, and the Acropolis of Athens.
Soon his whirlybird lifted off the ground,
hovered momentarily over St. Peter's, then
sped away to Ciampino airport. Though dis
appointed by the weather, Mr. Eisenhower
expressed pleasure at his reception in Rome.
Boarding his VC-137 (a Boeing 707 jet) for
Ankara, Turkey, he remarked, "I feel that a
very fine beginning has been made here."
N.G.S.